2. Joakim Noah
Position: Center
Age: 31 (2/25/1985)
Experience: 10th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .468/.000/.306
2016-17 Season Averages: 21.6 MPG, 4.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.1 ORPG, 2.7 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.7 SPG
Joakim Noah has found his niche with the New York Knicks: rebounding, facilitating, and competing on defense. His physicality is of great aid to the defense and his mental toughness helps set a tone for a competitive Knicks squad.
The Denver Nuggets lead the league in rebounds per game and have the personnel to put up points in the paint, which is why Noah must excel.
Noah is currently averaging 13.1 rebounds, 5.1 offensive boards, 4.5 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals per 36 minutes. Those are extraordinary numbers, specifically in the rebounding and assists departments.
Unfortunately, he’s been inconsistent as a scorer in the sense that he’s been an erratic finisher and atrocious free throw shooter.
Noah has been making harder cuts to the rim in recent games, especially when working the pick and roll. He was making shots from the post early in the season, but he’s since begun to rush and convert with efficiency.
The Knicks don’t need Noah to have an elite performance, but against the No. 1 rebounding team in the NBA, his presence on the boards will be vital.